Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received from members of the public on the HS2 project since he took office; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department for Transport holds records of 1604 pieces of written correspondence received by the High Speed Rail and Major Projects Group from members of public since July 2019, when the Secretary of State for Transport took office. The content of those written representations could only be provided at disproportionate cost as each case would have to be opened and checked.

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of hydrogen refuelling stations.

Rachel Maclean: The UK is well placed to be a leader in hydrogen fuel cell powered transportation thanks to our high-quality engineering and manufacturing capability. The Government’s approach to delivering long-term ambitions for greener transport is technology neutral and we are supporting hydrogen where the market favours its use. There are currently 12 publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK that provide hydrogen for both cars and buses. The Government’s £23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme is increasing the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles and growing the number of publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations. The programme is delivering new refuelling stations and upgrading some existing stations as well as deploying hundreds of new hydrogen vehicles.

Airlines: Coronavirus

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the financial situation of the airline sector.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Transport is working with airlines, airports and unions to understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on the sector and its workers

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the role that hydrogen vehicles can play in tackling air pollution.

Rachel Maclean: In 2018, the Department for Transport published the outputs of the Transport Energy Model. The model provides a clear assessment of the relative environmental impacts of a range of fuel and powertrain options for cars, vans, buses and heavy goods vehicles over the period to 2050, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

A31: New Forest

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will determine the responsibility for the maintenance of grids giving access to the A31 between the Verderers of the New Forest and Highways England; and if he will make a statement.

Rachel Maclean: In recent years, Highways England has been in contact with the Verderers of the New Forest, New Forest District Council, Forestry Commission and Hampshire County Council to determine responsibility for maintenance of the cattle grids around the A31. Highways England maintains the grids that it is responsible for, which are positioned within its boundary line of the A31 highway. Highways England is committed to future engagement with all local stakeholders, and happy to participate in any subsequent meetings on this issue.

Driving Instruction: Coronavirus

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether driving instructors are permitted to teach non-key worker pupils under covid-19 lockdown rules; and what covid-19 safety guidelines those instructors are subject to.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recommends that, currently, approved driving instructors (ADI) should only provide lessons to candidates who have an essential need. ADIs should ask pupils to bring appropriate identification to demonstrate the need for the lesson: a payslip, letter or identification badge should suffice. When providing driving lessons, all ADIs should put in place appropriate measures, in line with the latest Public Heath England and Cabinet Office guidance, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It is the responsibility of the ADI and the pupil to consider the risks to their health and to decide if the driving lesson is essential.ADIs whose registration lapses in the next three months, and who are observing government guidelines not to work, can delay renewing their registration until restrictions are lifted. Legislation provides that ADIs have one year in which to apply to re-register without having to take the qualification tests again.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of whether common international health standards for aviation can be agreed in order for the Government to be able to review its policy on the 14-day quarantine period for people entering the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Transport is working closely with a range of international partners, including ICAO and IATA, to drive forward a shared agenda on public health measures for international travel. We are also monitoring closely measures already taken by other countries to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from air travel. We are guided by the science on self-isolation requirements, which for now will cover all arrivals into the UK, bar a small number of exemptions. We will carefully consider if a risk based approach between countries is possible.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support he plans to provide to the UK aviation industry in light of the policy proposal for a 14 day quarantine for inbound passengers to the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The aviation sector plays a key role in our future as a global trading nation, as well as playing a critical role in local economies. However, it is important that we actively manage the risk of imported cases of coronavirus being introduced to the UK from overseas. The Prime Minister has set out the need to ensure that we do not import new cases of Covid-19 as the UK’s R rate continues to decline. These measures, which we will be introducing in due course as part of the Government’s overall efforts, will help keep transmission in the UK as low as possible.The Government continues to support businesses through one of the most generous economic packages provided anywhere in the world.  If businesses find themselves in severe and urgent financial difficulties, even following these unprecedented support measures, then we remain open to discussion about bespoke financial support, but only as a last resort. Any intervention would need to be on terms to protect the interests of taxpayers.In time, the aviation sector will begin to restart and recover, and we are exploring measures that could be deployed in the aviation sector to ensure the public can be confident that flying is a safe and healthy way of travelling. Any changes to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer.

International Transport: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport,  what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a common international standard on screening measures on travel during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Transport is working with a range of international partners, including ICAO and IATA, to assess the impacts of the current crisis on international aviation. We recognise that aviation is a fundamentally international industry and thus common measures are highly desirable. Through the newly established International Aviation Taskforce we aim to establish a baseline of measures in the form of government guidance, based on the available evidence, and for these to become widespread and well-understood, avoiding confusion and uncertainty for both industry and passengers.

International Transport: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with (a) the European Aviation Safety Authority, (b) the International Civil Aviation Organization and (c) other international bodies on achieving a common international standard on screening measures for travel during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Transport is working closely with international partners through bodies such as ICAO and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) to discuss a wide range of Covid-19 pandemic issues. This includes discussions on potential common international measures for travel during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that theory test pass certificates of learner drivers do not expire during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The two-year validity period of the theory test certificate is set in legislation. This is so the candidate’s theoretical knowledge remains current. To extend the validity period would require legislative change, which would need the relevant Parliamentary process to happen. This situation is being given urgent attention.

Tyne and Wear Metro: Coronavirus

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to provide funding for the Tyne and Wear Metro after the end of the Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant in June 2020.

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to help tackle financial shortfalls in Nexus’ funding for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Rachel Maclean: A further £29 million was announced by the Transport Secretary on 23 May to increase tram and light rail services across the country so that people who need to travel, including critical workers in the NHS, can do so safely. The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (NEXUS) is estimated to receive £7.6 million of that funding for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Bus Services: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the proposal of 29 April 2020 submitted by the Confederation of Passenger Transport on support for the coach industry during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The Chancellor announced £330 billion of loans and guarantees, to financially support businesses, such as coach operators, through this time. The measures include the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Time to Pay and VAT deferral. The Department continues to work closely with the coach sector to understand what the ongoing risks and issues are, and how these could be addressed.

Motorcycles: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to promote the use of powered two-wheelers as an alternative to public transport during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The Department’s guidance issued on 12 May refers to “Private cars and other vehicles” as an alternative to using public transport, and encourages the public to “consider all other forms of transport before using public transport”. This would include private vehicles such as motorcycles and mopeds where the journey to be made is appropriate. In response to COVID-19, we are accelerating and expanding planned trials of rental e-scooters, allowing all areas that want to host trials to do so. We will introduce legislation in June to allow trials to begin.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Coronavirus: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the amount of (a) public and (b) private research and development funding that has been spent on coronavirus research over the last 10 years; and who the principal recipients were of the public research and development spend.

Amanda Solloway: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has funded a total of £23,694,655 for activities directly related to coronavirus between 2010 and the current COVID-19 crisis. This covers 34 projects across 23 organisations including the Pirbright Institute, the MRC Human Immunology Unit, and the University of Glasgow. UKRI, along with other government departments, also funds a large amount of research and innovation across connected areas including the social sciences, vaccine manufacturing, and into fundamental biological sciences that are not directly aimed at coronavirus but have a huge impact on our understanding of and ability to respond to infectious diseases and epidemics. These areas are also supported, in collaboration with other public funders, through groups such as The UK Vaccine Network, which was established in June 2015 with £120 million from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and UKRI ODA funding, to support the development of vaccines and vaccine technologies for diseases with epidemic potential. Since the outbreak of the current pandemic the Government has made a series of further interventions specifically targeted at COVID-19 including:£24.6 million for a joint UKRI-DHSC rapid response call for public and clinical research on COVID-19. Funding for this has been announced across 27 projects£20m through UKRI, Public Health England, NHS, and Wellcome Trust for the Whole Genome Sequence Alliance£28m through UKRI, Genomics England, DHSC, NIHR, and Illumina for the GenOMICC consortiumUKRI have launched an open call for short-term multi-disciplinary research projects of up to 18 months into tackling and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19.In addition to the £40m already given to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Prime Minister announced in March that the UK has invested an additional £210m of funding in the CEPI global vaccine initiative. The latest ONS Business Enterprise Research and Development release suggests that businesses in the UK performed over £43 billion worth of R&D on pharmaceuticals in the ten years from 2009 to 2018, the most recent 10-year data range available.[1] Specific figures on private sector research into coronavirus within pharmaceutical research are not specified in this release. [1] ONS Business Enterprise Research and Development Release, UK: 2018 https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/researchanddevelopmentexpenditure/bulletins/businessenterpriseresearchanddevelopment/2018

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent progress has been made on the creation of a satellite navigation system.

Amanda Solloway: This Government has made clear its ambitions in space through a new ministerial level National Space Council and by developing a Space Strategy to bring long term strategic and commercial benefits for the UK. The Government recognises the contribution the space sector makes to our economy, national security, global influence and in helping the nation to tackle the COVID crisis. The GNSS programme is currently in its Engineering Design and Development Phase to research and understand what would best suit the UK's requirements. The programme is taking the appropriate time to investigate the requirements, design specifications and costs as fully as possible. This includes assessing value for money, scope for innovation, new markets and how much a system could meet the UK's assured positioning navigation and timing requirements as part of an ambitious new space strategy. The programme has recently proceeded with a number of technical contracts from April to September to deliver key engineering work whilst protecting skills and technical GNSS sector jobs. A project led by the Cabinet Office is developing the UK's positioning navigation and timing (PNT) requirements, bringing together expertise from across Whitehall, industry and the PNT community to consider requirements across military, civil and Critical National Infrastructure sectors. In addition to other technologies, a UK GNSS capability could form part of the mix of solutions needed.

Construction: Coronavirus

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department is providing to construction companies to enable them to meet health and safety guidelines in respect of covid-19.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government has worked with industry to produce guidance for those who work in or run outdoor working environments, including construction sites. This guidance will help to ensure that workplaces are as safe as possible and give workers the confidence to return to work. The guidance is published at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work. The Government has also worked with the Construction Leadership Council to develop Site Operating Procedures, which provide practical advice to those seeking to implement Public Health England’s guidance. Organisations must have effective arrangements in place for monitoring and reviewing their compliance with Government and industry guidance.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying to remove the EU State Aid cap on the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Scheme for sectors that are not affected by state aid rules.

Paul Scully: The Government keeps its business support schemes including the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality scheme under constant review. This is why we have updated guidance to Local Authorities administering the scheme, and why, based on feedback from our stakeholders, we launched the Discretionary Grant Scheme to allow Local Authorities to support businesses which did not meet the criteria for the Small Business Grant Fund or Retail Leisure and Hospitality scheme.

Remote Working: Coronavirus

John Nicolson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support businesses in the (a) transition to homeworking and (b) procurement of remote technology and office supplies to maximise homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: Government is clear that, where people can, they should work at home during the current coronavirus outbreak. In order to support this, and homeworking more generally, the ACAS and HSE websites provide extensive advice on employers responsibilities and duties, and guidance on best practice, including on addressing some of the negative impacts which can be associated with homeworking – such as loneliness and mental health. Both websites have been updated to take account of the current circumstances. The Government is working with the private sector and business representative organisations to explore how to rapidly improve utilisation and increase adoption of existing technologies to help businesses return to work safely and adapt to new ways of operating and doing business. For example, we are supporting Be the Business, the business-led independent charity which launched in 2017 with the aim of helping UK SMEs to improve their productivity. In response to the COVID19 outbreak, Be the Business have published a range of online advice and guidance to help SMEs adapt their business practices, including transitioning to homeworking.  The Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS) allows small businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, interest free for the first 12 months. At the discretion of the lender, this can be used to provide working capital for the business, such as investment in new technology.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Government's charter flights to repatriate people to the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.

Nigel Adams: Helping British nationals who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. Additionally we have now brought home over 32,000 people on 155 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 29 countries and territories.The UK Government continues to work with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights to priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. A proportion of the funding remains and the work is ongoing to utilise it to support the next phase of our repatriation effort.We have asked passengers to pay for a ticket home, just as they would pay for a commercial flight, to help ensure that we can use the money to bring as many people as possible home. The money is being spent directly on the transport required to get people home - this includes charter flights to the UK as well as the costs of ground transport and internal flights to get people to the departure airport.

Mexico: Religious Freedom

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of freedom of religion or belief in Mexico.

Wendy Morton: While civil society organisations continue to report cases of Freedom of Religion or Belief violations in Mexico, assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faiths. At the UN Universal Periodic Review session in November 2018, the UK made recommendations regarding accountability for human rights violations, and addressing impunity for violence against human rights defenders.The UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, I discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March.

Mexico: Protestantism

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Mexican Government on the reported removal of some Mexican protestants’ access to water, electricity and other basic services.

Wendy Morton: We are aware of reports of removal of some Mexican Protestants' access to water, electricity and other basic services in Mexico. The assessment by the Mexican Government, the local UN Human Rights office, and local civil society organisations is that while there are cases of individuals being targeted because of their religion or beliefs, people are more often targeted for their work and activities in defence of human rights or because of religious intolerance between faiths. We will continue to raise our concerns when we become aware of such cases.As I referenced in my response to PQ 47313, the UK Government continues to engage regularly with Mexican authorities at ministerial, official, and state levels to discuss human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), and to support a broad human rights agenda in Mexico. Most recently, I discussed human rights with the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited London on 9 March. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Mexico in August 2019, he raised human rights with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who expressed his support for working with the UK both bilaterally and multilaterally to protect human rights. Additionally, Baroness Williams raised FoRB with the Mexican Interior Minister in September 2019.

St Vincent and the Grenadines: Coronavirus

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) provide consular support to and (b) arrange the repatriation of British citizens in St Vincent and the Grenadines during the covid-19 outbreak.

Wendy Morton: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working around the clock, through our Posts overseas and in London, to make sure all British people who need help are receiving the support and information they need. We have now brought home over 32,000 people on 155 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 29 countries and territories.The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return home. The UK Government is working closely with airlines, local authorities and governments in the Caribbean region to help British travellers return to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights from priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. We have supported over 11,000 people to return home from the Caribbean via commercial means.We are aware that there are British travellers remaining overseas in the Caribbean region and our effort is focused on supporting their return as quickly and safely as possible. British travellers wishing to return to the UK have been actively encouraged to register with their nearest High Commission or Embassy as well as to check travel advice for updates regularly: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Northern Ireland Office

Ulster Scots Language

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the document entitled New Decade, New Approach, published on 9 January, what his timescale is for implementing the Council of Europe Framework Convention for National Minorities in respect of the Ulster-Scots community in Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: Under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, the Government committed to recognising Ulster Scots as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. We are working towards delivering this commitment before the end of 2020.

Department for International Development

Overseas Development Institute Fellowship Scheme

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to continue funding the Overseas Development Institute fellowship scheme.

James Duddridge: A performance evaluation of the ODI Fellowships Scheme will be completed by November 2020 and its conclusions will inform decisions on future funding.

Department for Education

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Kate Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support he plans to provide to special school pupils who are due to finish their studies in the current academic year to ensure those pupils are on a level playing field with pupils who are receiving predicted GCSE grades.

Vicky Ford: Our ambition is for every child, no matter what challenges they face, to have access to a world-class education that sets them up for life. We want to support children and young people with education, health and care plans and ensure that they are able to access all the same opportunities as their peers.Due to the cancellation of exams, students who were due to sit GCSEs this year, including those who attend special schools, will receive calculated grades.Students in special schools may also be studying a range of vocational qualifications. The department has been working with the regulator, Ofqual, to ensure that as many students as possible receive results for any exams or assessments they were due to take this summer and it is our policy that pupils taking vocational or technical qualifications alongside or instead of GCSEs (or A levels) should receive calculated results, in a similar way to their peers taking GCSEs. Ofqual is working with awarding organisations to implement this. These students should also receive their results on the same day as GCSE (or A level) pupils. We recognise that some courses do not lend themselves to calculated grades and so may need to have their assessments adapted, or in minority of cases, delayed.

Schools: Uniforms

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he had with local authorities on the adoption of school uniforms in schools across South Yorkshire.

Nick Gibb: It is for the governing body of a school (or the academy trust, in the case of academies) to decide whether there should be a school uniform, and if so, what it should be. It is also for the governing body or academy trust to decide how the school uniform should be sourced. To support them to do this the Department issues best practice guidance which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform.Our guidance is clear that the Department strongly encourages schools to have a school uniform and recognises the valuable role it can play in contributing to the ethos of a school and setting an appropriate tone.The Government is pleased to support the Private Members' Bill, Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill, in order to make our guidance on the cost considerations for school uniform statutory at the earliest opportunity. This guidance will further support governing bodies in their decisions regarding school uniform policies.

Free School Meals

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing parents and carers in England with direct payments in place of the national free school meal voucher scheme.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department provides to (a) schools and (b) local authorities to encourage newly-eligible families to apply for free school meals.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2020 to Question 38875 on Academic Year and Free School Meals, by what date his Department will announce the successful bids for the summer 2020 Holiday Activities and Food scheme.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2020 to Question 9002, on Holiday Activities and Food Research Fund, of the nine bids received from the North East region how many were successful; and what the value is of those successful bids.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.Our latest guidance for schools is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We will continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate free school meal (FSM) arrangements for eligible pupils during this period. In the first instance, we are asking schools to speak to their catering teams and food suppliers about making food parcel arrangements for children staying at home as we believe that this is the best way to ensure that children are continuing to receive healthy meals. Where this is not possible, schools can use our national voucher scheme or alternatively can also set up their own voucher arrangements where the national scheme is not suitable. We have not put forward an approach that would involve direct payments to parents.Schools and local authorities continue to accept FSM applications from parents or pupils. The department provides an Eligibility Checking System to support schools and local authorities in verifying and awarding FSM and we have developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM.Our Holiday Activities and Food Scheme will ensure that thousands of disadvantaged children have access to healthy meals this summer. On 16 March, we wrote to all bidders to let them know whether or not they were successful in their applications for funding and offered feedback to unsuccessful bidders. We will shortly announce the successful areas publicly.

Schools: ICT

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his written statement of 21 April 2020, HCWS193, on Support for Education Settings/Providers, how many (a) laptops and tablets and (b) wireless 4G routers have been (i) applied for and (ii) will be received by schools on behalf of children and young people in each local authority area in the North East region.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G routers.We are providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examination in Year 10, receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver.The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets. Local authorities and academy trusts are best place to identify and prioritise children and young people who need devices. The Department is agreeing the number of devices allocated to each local authority and academy trust based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device.The Department is working to provide these devices in the shortest possible timeframe; deliveries to schools and Local Authorities will start this month and continue in June.

Pupils: Coronavirus

Duncan Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to (a) support pupils in years (i) 10 and (ii) 12 that are not attending school due to the covid-19 outbreak but are due to take exams in 2021 and (b) ensure that the break in the schooling of those pupils is taken into account when assessing the results of their exams.

Nick Gibb: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Our latest guidance for schools and colleges is at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.We have prioritised the return to school of children in reception, year 1 and year 6, and have asked secondary schools and colleges to offer some face to face support for young people in year 10 and year 12 to supplement their remote education. This is because they are preparing for key examinations next year and are most at risk of falling behind due to time out of school or college. From 1 June 2020, we expect that secondary schools and colleges will be able to offer some face to face contact with year 10 and year 12 students. This will not be a return to full timetables or students back in school or college full time, but rather support to supplement students’ remote education.We have also committed over £100 million to boost remote education, including giving free laptops to year 10 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, alongside care leavers and those with a social worker, to help them learn from home during the lockdown. Additionally, if families of these students do not have good access to the internet, we will provide them with 4G routers so that they can learn online. Students aged 16 to 19 without a suitable device for education may be eligible for support through the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. The Department will also ensure that every school and college that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education.In light of the disruption experienced by students in Years 10 and 12 who are due to take exams in 2021, we are working with Ofqual and the exam boards to develop our approach to next year’s exams.

Free School Meals: Blackpool

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support the families of pupils on free school meals in Blackpool during the school summer holidays in 2020.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Blackpool Opportunity Area funded a summer activity with food programme across 6 of the most disadvantaged wards in Blackpool, combining healthy eating, arts and craft and sports with provision of food in the holidays in 2019. This included the development of a local authority, public health and community and voluntary sector partnership, which has continued enabling groups to work together to secure additional funding from the Sunday Times Christmas Campaign. Plans for this summer are not yet confirmed.This summer, our holiday activities and food programme will ensure thousands of disadvantaged children in England have access to healthy meals and holiday activities – building on the success of the 2018 and 2019 programmes – and we remain committed to supporting children and families through the disruption caused by COVID-19. We will announce the successful local areas shortly.In addition, the government continues to invest significantly each year on welfare benefits for people of working age, supporting people when they need it, including those who are out of work or on a low income. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the government’s package of support in response to COVID-19 is one of the largest in the world. We have increased Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by over £1,000 a year for this financial year, benefiting over 4 million households and increased Local Housing Allowance rates, putting an average of £600 into people’s pockets. Taken together, these measures provide over £6.5 billion of additional support through the welfare system for people affected by COVID-19, the biggest ever in Universal Credit.

Free School Meals

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) food parcels, (b) national vouchers, (c) local vouchers and (d) cash payments in respect of free school meals are accessible to all children.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to extend the free school meals voucher scheme.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. However, we recognise that food parcel arrangements may not always be possible and so at the end of March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option. This provides schools with additional flexibility to decide what is best for families in their schools.Schools are best placed to determine the most appropriate and accessible local arrangements for their eligible pupils. We understand that alternative approaches to the national voucher scheme, such as providing food parcels or purchasing vouchers for local shops not in the national scheme, may mean that schools incur additional costs. We have published guidance on the financial support available for schools who incur these additional costs in this way. This guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools.Our national voucher scheme supplier Edenred has reported that over £101.5 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Friday 22 May.As schools prepare to open more widely, they should speak to their school catering team or food providers to ensure that they are supported to return to school to provide meals for those children attending.Our latest guidance for schools on free school meals provision during this period is set out here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools. These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Assessments: Coronavirus

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of releasing an online version of the proposed Key Stage Two SATs examinations that were cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak so that pupils can measure their own learning.

Nick Gibb: In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact on schools, the department has removed all requirements on schools and local authorities relating to the 2020 statutory primary assessments, including statutory trialling activities.The cancellation of statutory trialling means the rigorous process undertaken by the department for developing statutory assessments has been disrupted and it has not been possible to complete trialling for all the assessments intended for administration in 2021. As a result, the department will preserve the 2020 assessments for use in the next academic year, which also provides value for money for the taxpayer.The statutory test papers from previous years are available online, so suitable high-quality alternatives are available without the release of the 2020 test papers.

Schools: Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that social distancing is maintained by (a) parents and (b) children during travel to and from schools.

Nick Gibb: Parents and children should consider walking and cycling to school where possible, or driving if necessary. They should avoid the use of public transport where possible. The Department for Transport has published guidance on safer travel for the public. It is available here: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers. Parents and children may wish to refer to this when planning their journeys, and to help them minimise risk where the use of public transport is unavoidable.Some children have their home to school transport arranged by their local authority or school. Local authorities and schools should put in place arrangements which fit local circumstances and minimise the risk of transmission, as far as is possible. This should include making sure transport providers follow hygiene rules. They may wish to refer to the Department for Transport’s guidance for transport operators here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators.In addition, the phased wider opening of schools will limit the number of children travelling on home to school transport in the initial phase. Where transport capacity allows, local authorities could consider substituting smaller vehicles with larger ones, or running two vehicles rather than one, to reduce the number of passengers per vehicle and help passengers keep their distance.We are in contact with local authorities to help resolve issues as they arise.

Schools: Coronavirus

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what safety (a) guidance and (b) support will be issued to schools that will be reopening on 1 June 2020 during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: The Department’s latest guidance for schools to support their widening opening from 1 June 2020 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.In all education, childcare and social care settings, a range of approaches and actions should be employed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Schools should follow the hierarchy of controls that, when implemented, creates an inherently safer system, where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. These include:minimising contact with individuals who are unwell or who have coronavirus symptoms;frequently cleaning hands;ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach;regular cleaning of settings; andminimising contact and mixing. Particular advice on implementing protective measures is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings.

Schools and Nurseries: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the plan for a phased wider opening of schools and nurseries after 1 June 2020 includes the regular testing for covid-19 of asymptomatic (a) children and (b) staff; and how he plans to make an assessment of the effect on the R rate of infection of the wider opening of education institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: On 18 May 2020, the Government announced that with immediate effect, all UK citizens over the age of 5 who experience symptoms are eligible to be tested.The plan for a phased wider opening of settings and nurseries does not include regular testing for asymptomatic children or staff. The test is most effective for those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, set out in his announcement on 11 May 2020, progress on infection rates will be monitored every day. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) provides regular estimates of R, which will continue to be monitored both before and after schools open more widely. We will continue to receive advice from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, the Chief Medical Officer and SAGE.

Education: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education,what steps he is taking to ensure that children from lower income families are in receipt of (a) laptops and (b) other necessary educational aides to prevent disruption to their education during the covid-19 lockdown.

Nick Gibb: The Government has committed over £100 million to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to access remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G routers.The Department is providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examination in Year 10, are receiving support from a social worker or are a care leaver. The Department has ordered over 200,000 laptops and tablets and is working to provide these devices in the shortest possible timeframe.To support the hard work of schools in delivering remote education, 40 teachers have come together to develop the brand-new Oak National Academy, launched on Monday 20 April. Oak Academy provides 180 video lessons for free each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10.Schools and families will also be able to draw on support from the BBC which is broadcasting lessons on television. Some of the BBC educational content is offline, via the red button, which disadvantaged pupils without digital devices or connectivity will still be able to access.Schools may also choose to draw on the many resources offers which have been made by publishers across the country. The Department has published an initial list of high quality online educational resources, which have been identified by some of the country’s leading educational experts to help pupils learn at home.

Education: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support  teachers to ensure minimal disruption to the education and attainment of children from all backgrounds and irrespective of economic circumstances during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: The Department has provided a range of information, guidance and support for teachers and leaders on educating children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.As well as recommended resources, it includes approaches and case studies for teachers to help them adapt their curriculum and teaching practices for remote education, and keep pupils motivated and engaged.To enable all children to continue learning whilst at home, the Department will provide digital devices and internet access for some disadvantaged children and young people who do not currently have access to them from other sources.The Department has asked schools to prepare to welcome back more children from 1 June at the earliest. We want to get children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to be back with their friends and teachers. Planning advice for primary schools, including advice on what to prioritise is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools#planning-what-to-teach-and-how.

Ministry of Justice

Prison and Probation Service: Staff

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of (a) directly and (b) non-directly employed HMPPS staff are currently (i) working from home, (ii) furloughed or (iii) attending the workplace, by grade; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: HMPPS is committed to the principle of maintaining social distancing and regular hand hygiene to protect staff and those in our care from COVID-19.In HMPPS HQ, nearly all staff are working from home and able to carry out their usual duties. Only a small handful of staff continue to go into work where absolutely necessary. The vast majority of operational staff in prisons, however, continue to attend the workplace – for these staff we are providing PPE where appropriate. In probation, most offenders are being supervised remotely, enabling most probation staff to work remotely. Some probation staff will be required to attend the workplace for face-to-face appointments with the most complex and high-risk offenders. No HMPPS staff have been furloughed.We are unable to provide data on the total number of HMPPS staff working from home (as this is collected by exception), nor can we provide data broken down by grade or by direct/non-direct employment status.However, we are able to provide the total number of public sector prison and probation staff who are working from home and unable fulfil all of their usual duties outside of their usual place of work. The following table provides that information as at 8 May and also a breakdown of those staff as a proportion of our overall headcount of directly employed staff, and split for key operational grades. HMPPS Service areaTotal staff1Proportion of total staff in post (headcount) Staff at key operational grades2Proportion of key operational grade staff in post (headcount)Public sector prison staff including Youth Offender Institutes (directly employed staff only)130less than 1% 20less than 1%National Probation Service staff including Approved Premises128011% 96011%Total14003% 9803%Source: HMPPS COVID-19 absences data collection1 Numbers may not sum due to rounding2 Key operational grades refer to:Prisons: Operational Support and Band 3-5 Prison OfficersNational Probation Service: Residential workers and case administrators (approved Premises) Band 3-5 Probation Officers (NPS and Approved Premises)Data Sources & QualityThese figures have been drawn from the HMPPS COVID-19 data collection. Care is taken when processing and analysing returns but the detail is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Although shown to the last case, the figures may not be accurate to that level. This data has been self-reported and has not yet been checked against our central databases.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to ascertain the views of (a) victims of crime and (b) the general public on sentencing policy.

Chris Philp: We are committed to ensuring victims of crime and the general public have confidence in the criminal justice system and there are a number of routes where the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system is regularly tested. The Office for National Statistics has published data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales on confidence in the criminal justice system, for several years. This data can be viewed at:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/adhocs/008964dataonconfidenceinthecriminaljusticesystemyearsendingmarch2008tomarch2018crimesurveyforenglandandwaleswith additional information here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/adhocs/010292confidenceinthecriminaljusticesystemyearsendingmarch2008tomarch2018crimesurveyforenglandandwales/finaltable.xlsand separately in tables S13 and S27 here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesannualsupplementarytables The independent Sentencing Council also has a statutory duty to have regard to the need to promote public confidence in the criminal justice system when developing the sentencing guidelines and monitoring their impact. The Council has interpreted this duty more widely as an obligation to take direct steps to promote public confidence in the criminal justice system, and sentencing in particular. In 2019 the Council published research to consider what drives public confidence in the criminal justice system with the aim of understanding the public’s knowledge of and attitudes towards sentencing, sentencing guidelines and the criminal justice system. As part of this research, interviewers also carried out in-depth interviews with victims of crime. The report on the findings of the research can be viewed at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Public-Knowledge-of-and-Confidence-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System-and-Sentencing.pdf

Prison Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what offences were committed by people sentenced to terms of imprisonment of between 18 months and four years, in each of the last three years.

Chris Philp: Information up to December 2018 on the offences committed by offenders sentenced to imprisonment for between 18 months and four years has been published in the ‘Sentencing data tool’, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2018. To obtain the information requested, in the pivot table, filter the Custodial Sentence Length field to the following:10: Over 18 months and up to and including 2 years11: Over 2 years and up to and including 3 years12: Over 3 years to less than 4 years. Then, click on the table to open the field list and remove ‘Offence Type’ from the Rows field and drag ‘Offence’ into that field. The table will populate with offences which received custodial sentences of between 18 months and four years. Sentencing data up to December 2019 is due to be published on 21 May 2020.

Courts

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to support people who are in need of urgent priority court hearings.

Chris Philp: Urgent priority court hearings are going ahead, and work has been prioritised to ensure justice systems remain open to the most vulnerable. Whether and how cases are listed is a judicial decision. HMCTS, together with the judiciary, has ensured priority case types continue to be dealt with, such as those held in police or prison custody, applications for Domestic Violence Protection Orders, and applications relating to public health concerns. Case prioritisation is under constant review. In addition, we have been a rapidly expanding our use of technology so that more video and audio hearings can take place across the justice system, subject to judicial discretion. Users can be assured that where their case has been adjourned that the department will do all it can to support the judiciary in listing the case when the situation allows for it.We’re doing everything possible to ensure any potential negative impacts are identified and mitigated for vulnerable users, by putting the right support in place for them.We work with the advice sector to fully understand the impacts on vulnerable people, reasonable adjustments, and reflecting up to date advice from the sector in our processes for court users to join hearings and in related staff guidance.We are pleased that the courts are now in a position, with approval from Public Health England and Public Health Wales, to take some first steps towards the resumption of jury trials. Our priorities are to protect the safety of our staff, the judiciary, legal professionals and all courts and tribunal users while continuing to provide access to justice – in particular for the most time-critical and sensitive cases.

Legal Aid Scheme

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of suspending claim frequency limits for civil legal aid practitioners.

Alex Chalk: We have already taken steps to provide emergency support for work completed on paper-based certificates, with contingency measures temporarily in place for payments on account. These special payments on account will not be subject to payment at 75%, nor will they be restricted to two claims in 12 months. Further guidance on these arrangements can be found at https://ccmstraining.justice.gov.uk/training-resources/billing-contingency-measures. For non-paper-based certificates, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) are reviewing the two claims limit as a matter of urgency. The LAA is working to ensure it can continue to support the legal aid sector, helping them maintain access to justice for their clients at this time. The LAA has published guidance on the support available to the legal sector including claiming a payment on account, to provide financial assistance for costs incurred by practitioners over the course of a legal aid certificate. This guidance can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-relief-for-legal-aid-practitioners. Timescales for the payments of civil bills are published at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/civil-processing-dates, and claims are currently being considered within three working days of being received. The MoJ and LAA continue to review the impact of covid-19 on legal aid practitioners, and ensure that the most vulnerable in society are provided with the representation they need.

Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will restore access to legal aid for asylum seekers in the UK.

Alex Chalk: Legal aid is and will continue to be available for asylum cases in the UK, including for initial applications, accommodation claims for asylum support and appeals. All legal aid applications are subject to statutory eligibility tests.

Debt Collection: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to extend the freeze on bailiff visits in England and Wales for people whose finances have been adversely affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Alex Chalk: Visits by enforcement agents (bailiffs) to take control of goods at residential premises and on highways are currently suspended under the Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 25 April. This restriction will remain in place while the social distancing restrictions that limit the reasons for which a person can leave the place in which they live are in force under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020.My department is working with the enforcement agent industry to ensure that enforcement agents take a proportionate approach to payment with people who have been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Debt Collection: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending the freeze on bailiff visits in England and Wales until an independent regulator is established.

Alex Chalk: Visits by enforcement agents (bailiffs) to take control of goods at residential premises and on highways are currently suspended under the Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 25 April. This restriction is a public health measure and will remain in place while the social distancing restrictions that limit the reasons for which a person can leave the place in which they live are in force under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020. Separately, the Ministry of Justice is reviewing the implementation of reforms, contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and introduced in 2014, which govern how enforcement agents take control of goods. This includes consideration of how regulation of the sector might be strengthened. We will publish our review in due course.

Criminal Proceedings: Victims

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to give victims of crime enforceable rights in the criminal justice system.

Alex Chalk: This Government is fully committed to introducing a Victims’ Law but first, we need to complete the revision of the Victims’ Code to address its complexity, accessibility and to establish a clear set of rights for victims.Our consultation ‘Improving the Victims’ Code’ is due to close on the 28th of May. We will publish a finalised version of the revised Victims’ Code as part of the Government’s response as soon as possible thereafter and bring it into force later this year.The revised Code will be followed by a consultation on a Victims’ Law that will guarantee victims’ their rights and the level of support they can expect.

Treasury

Business: Insurance

Neil Coyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives of insurance providers on ensuring that business interruption clauses are upheld for claims made as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

John Glen: The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector to understand and influence its response to this unprecedented situation and is encouraging insurers to do all they can to support customers during this difficult period. The Government is working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that the rules are being upheld during this crisis and fully supports the regulator in its role. The FCA rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed. In addition, the FCA has said that, in light of COVID-19, insurers must consider very carefully the needs of their customers and show flexibility in their treatment of them. However, it is important to note that most businesses have not purchased insurance that covers losses from non-property damage. Additionally, while some policies cover losses arising from any disease classed as notifiable by the government, or a denial of access to a building, most of these policies only cover a specific list of notifiable diseases or an incident specifically on the premises of the business. Insurance policies differ significantly, so businesses are encouraged to check the terms and conditions of their specific policy and contact their providers. The terms of a policy cannot be changed retrospectively. The Government encourages businesses to seek assistance through the wider support package if they are in financial difficulty. Businesses should explore the full package of support set out by the Chancellor in recent weeks, including measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to local authorities in relation to support for people with no recourse to public funds that have been placed in temporary accommodation during the covid-19 outbreak; and whether officials in his Department have held discussions with representatives of Public Health England on that matter.

Luke Hall: The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times, and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.

Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with no recourse to public funds do not return to homelessness when the covid-19 lockdown is lifted.

Luke Hall: The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times, and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.

Antisemitism: Hate Crime

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many Ministerial roundtables on antisemitism have been held since the Home Office’s Hate Crime Action Plan refresh document was published in 2018.

Luke Hall: Following the publication of the Hate Crime Action Plan Refresh in October 2018, the Government has hosted two ministerial roundtables on antisemitism with stakeholders from Jewish communities, alongside regular meetings of the Cross-Government Working Group to Tackle Antisemitism.

Sikhs: Hate Crime

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many roundtables her Department has held with the Sikh community since the Home Office’s Hate Crime Action Plan refresh document was published in 2018.

Luke Hall: There is regular engagement at Ministerial and official level with representatives of Sikh communities. In addition to this the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has hosted two hate crime roundtables with the Sikh community since the Government’s Hate Crime Action Plan refresh document was published in October 2018.

Travellers: Hate Crime

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many roundtables have been held with representatives of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Liaison Group since the publication of her Department's updated Hate crime action plan in October 2018.

Luke Hall: There have been five Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Liaison Group roundtables hosted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since the Government’s Hate Crime Action Plan refresh document was published in October 2018.

Supported Housing: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the adequacy of support provided to people living in supported accommodation during the covid-19 outbreak.

Luke Hall: My Department values the important role being played by supported housing providers and front line staff to support residents in supported housing during the pandemic. We are working closely with key stakeholder representatives in the sector to monitor and respond to issues as a result of Covid-19. The Government has also announced over £3.2 billion additional un-ringedfenced funding for councils to support their response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leasehold: Repairs and Maintenance

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of 999 year leases on leaseholders that require maintenance on their properties.

Christopher Pincher: All leasehold properties will require regular building maintenance to ensure safety and relevant legislation is complied with, whatever the length of the lease. The responsibility to ensure appropriate maintenance may fall on the freeholder or a right to manage company, or managing agent acting on their behalf. The maintenance obligations are set out in the lease and the cost is usually recoverable from the leaseholder through service charges.

Leasehold

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to bring forward legislative proposals on leasehold reform.

Christopher Pincher: The Government is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market. This includes measures to ban the sale of new leasehold houses, restrict ground rents to zero for future leases, give freehold homeowners equivalent rights to challenge unfair charges and close loopholes to prevent unfair evictions, and improve information for prospective buyers.We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Chief Scientific Advisers

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (a) from 1 September to 30 November 2019 and (b) from 1 December 2019 to 29 February 2020.

Luke Hall: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government draws from a range of scientific advice and expertise, including from the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, the department’s own Chief Scientific Adviser, and academics and researchers. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria will be used for local authorities to be able to access the Shared Prosperity Fund; and from what date local authorities will be able to make an application to that fund.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government has committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to succeed European structural funds and bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations.   The Government understands the importance of this investment for people, businesses and places. Final decisions on the design of the fund will need to be taken after a cross-Government Spending Review. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with interested parties whilst developing the fund.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of whether the per capita methodology that is used to allocate emergency funding to local authorities accurately reflects the costs incurred by local authorities in responding to the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: MHCLG continues to work closely with local authorities to manage the impacts of Covid-19 on our society.The Government has made £3.2 billion available to councils in England through unringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.The first wave of £1.6 billion of funding, announced on 19 March, was primarily allocated through the Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula, in recognition that the greatest immediate pressures would fall on local authorities with social care responsibilities. The second wave of £1.6 billion of funding, the allocations for which were announced on 28 April, was allocated on a per capita basis. This reflects our latest understanding of the distribution of additional Covid-related pressures, which are likely to be distributed in a way that is different from pre-existing needs.It is important that these two waves of funding are seen together and that false comparisons between the two are avoided. Across both waves, more than 90 per cent of the funding will go to social care authorities.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the deadlines for when expenditure needs to be incurred on (a) Housing Infrastructure Fund, (b) Local Growth Fund and (c) Transforming Cities Fund projects to enable local authorities to re-adjust after the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: The inevitable pressures caused by Covid-19 are impacting on the delivery of capital programmes. At this difficult time we recognise the need to take a pragmatic approach, supporting partners to enable continued delivery of these vital programmes where possible to stimulate the economy.Government is working closely with relevant partners to better understand the impact on delivery across a number of programmes. We will review what further support or flexibility may be needed based on the outcome of those conversations.

Caravan Sites

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) regulate the holiday park industry, (b) ensure that practices of park owners are fair towards caravan/lodge owners on holiday parks and (c) ensure similar protection to that available to owners of residential mobile/park homes; and whether he plans to introduce an (i) ombudsman and (ii) independent regulator to consider grievances in the holiday park sector.

Christopher Pincher: The Government has taken steps to regulate all businesses, including holiday parks, to ensure they are run responsibly and that the right regulatory frameworks are in place to meet business and consumer needs. No further regulation of the holiday park sector is planned.The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers including owners of holiday caravans and lodges on parks licensed for holiday use, against unfair contract terms. Other consumer law protects against mis-selling of goods and services and prohibits unfair commercial practices against consumers, primarily in the course of marketing and selling.Consumers in England and Wales can obtain free advice on their rights and how to seek redress by contacting the Citizens Advice consumer service (0808 223 1133) or through its website. In Scotland consumers can call the Advice Direct Scotland line (0808 800 9060).Holiday sites are required to maintain their parks and ensure they are safe to use. Local authorities have powers to take enforcement action against site owners who breach those requirements.Given these existing protections, the Government does not plan to give caravan/lodge owners on sites with planning permission for holiday use, similar protections as those on residential sites, or introduce an ombudsman or independent regulator.However, we are aware of examples of poor practice in the sector and my department will continue to work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has responsibility for general consumer protection, to explore how messages about rights and responsibilities can be communicated more effectively.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to support shared-ownership housing scheme applicants who are enrolled on the Government furlough scheme.

Christopher Pincher: The furlough scheme is a strong package of financial support, so where they can, shared owners should still pay the rent to their landlord and mortgage to their lender as normal.Shared owners who are struggling to meet their financial commitments can apply for universal credit to get help paying their rent and might be able to get Support for Mortgage Interest if they have been on benefits for 39 weeks without any breaks.On 17 March the Chancellor also announced, on behalf of the sector, that banks and building societies will offer a 3-month ‘mortgage holiday’ for borrowers struggling financially as a result of COVID-19. Like other mortgage holders, shared owners who are struggling to meet their mortgage payments will be able to request a mortgage payment holiday from their lender.Shared owners should not be forced out of their home during this difficult time. The Coronavirus Act 2020 rules that landlords must give three months’ notice of possession, and the moratorium on repossessions by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) means that lenders should not commence or continue repossession proceedings against their customers.

Ministry of Defence

China: Armed Forces

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the expansion of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

James Heappey: Safeguarding our national security will always be the first priority of the British Government. Defence continuously monitors and plans against all international developments which might have implications for the UK's interests and those of our allies. The Ministry of Defence has a working relationship with the People’s Liberation Army that enables an ongoing exchange of views. Needless to say, we are watching closely the development of Chinese military capability.

Department for Work and Pensions

Jobcentre Plus: Staff

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of Job Centre Plus staff were working (a) from home and (b) on site in (a) March, (b) April and (c) May 2020.

Mims Davies: The following figures cover all DWP staff, not just Jobcentre Plus and come with the following caveats. - Data started to be recorded from 23rd March, so the March value represents 23rd-31st March data only- May data is up to and including 20th May- Below figures exclude weekends and public holidays MonthAverage of Total UsersAverage of Home UsersAverage of Pct from homeMar52,28112,70824%Apr53,30815,87030%May57,38722,59639%

Universal Credit

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of new universal credit claimants that would be unable to make mortgage interest payments if their mortgage payment holiday expires; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: No such assessment has been made. New claimants to Universal Credit have to serve a nine month qualifying period before they are entitled to help with their mortgage interest. The lending industry is aware of and understands these arrangements. If, during this time, individuals are unable to meet their payments, we would encourage them to discuss options with their lenders.

Universal Credit

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a system that calculates the level of benefit a claimant is entitled to under universal credit and informs the claimant of that figure before the claim is completed.

Will Quince: DWP cannot provide a preliminary indication of entitlement because this cannot be calculated until the end of the first Universal Credit Assessment Period. The Department has published information on the Government website for prospective claimants, including signposts to independent benefit calculators.

State Retirement Pensions

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of removing the triple lock on state pensions on pensioners.

Guy Opperman: The Secretary of State has not made an assessment of the impact on pensioners of the effect of removing the triple lock on State Pensions. The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. Since 2010, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension in 2020/21 is around £700 higher than if it had just been up-rated by earnings since April 2010. That’s a rise of over £1,900 in cash terms.

State Retirement Pensions

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the future of the triple lock on state pensions.

Guy Opperman: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with her Cabinet colleagues on the future of the triple lock on state pensions.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people who are (a) deemed to be employed but who are unable to work as a result of the effect of covid-19 on their employment or self-employment, (b) ineligible for universal credit as a result of means testing and (c) ineligible for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self Employment Income Support Scheme, are eligible for Jobseekers Allowance.

Mims Davies: a) Those deemed to be in employment as a result of receiving support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self Employed Income Support Scheme will not be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance if they usually work 16 hours or more per week. In order to be entitled to Jobseeker’s Allowance, claimants must satisfy a number of entitlement conditions, one of which is not being engaged in full time work. Those who usually work less than 16 hours per week are part-time workers and can apply. b) Jobseeker’s Allowance is a personal contribution-based benefit. Eligibility depends on someone having worked as an employee and having paid enough national insurance contributions, usually in the two full tax years before the calendar year in which they make their claim. They must also meet the following entitlement conditions:are not engaged in work of 16 hours or more per weekdo not have limited capability for workare not receiving relevant educationare under pensionable ageare in Great Britainhave accepted a Claimant Commitment c) Those ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or Self Employment Income Support Scheme may be eligible if they meet the conditions as set out in b) above.

Universal Credit

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has provided to staff processing claims for universal credit on using a better off calculation when a new claim is received.

Will Quince: DWP staff will signpost people to independent benefit calculators where they can check their eligibility for Universal Credit before applying. The independent benefits calculators we endorse are intended to provide useful estimations of what people can get in certain circumstances, based on what information is entered on the calculators themselves. This is to allow people to safely explore what help they may receive from Universal Credit before they apply, or based on potential changes of circumstances. For people considering claiming Universal Credit, we have updated our information on gov.uk and on understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk, where links to independent benefit calculators are published. https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants are (a) awaiting the outcome of and (b) have benefits suspended until conclusion of a benefits tribunal in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many benefits tribunals there have been in that period.

Justin Tomlinson: Information on the outstanding Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) tribunal caseload at the end of December 2019 is available in Table S_4 of the Tribunal statistics quarterly statistics main tables published by the Ministry of Justice, available at the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly Information on the number of SSCS disposals in the period October to December 2019, including those cleared at a tribunal hearing, is available at the same link in Table SSCS_2.The information requested on how many benefit claimants have had benefits suspended until the conclusion of a benefits tribunal is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sea Bass: Conservation

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received on Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities being unable to introduce emergency byelaws because of uncertainty on the test in s157(2) (6) Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 which is resulting in juvenile bass being caught in nets with undersize mesh; and if he will take steps to work with Fish Legal to provide urgent clarificatory guidance for Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities on that matter.

Victoria Prentis: Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are independent statutory authorities and have direct responsibility to manage sea fisheries resources sustainably in their districts. Therefore, it is for each IFCA to decide whether a situation warrants an emergency byelaw and if this meets the qualifying criteria as laid down in section 157 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Defra has provided best practice guidance on IFCA byelaw-making, including emergency byelaws made under section 157, and the department has not been approached by any IFCA to provide further statutory guidance on this statutory provision.

Food: Coronavirus

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of people identified as being clinically extremely vulnerable to covid-19 who have registered (a) to indicate that they require support getting the food and/or other essentials they need and (b) but do not require support; and how many of those vulnerable people are receiving food and basic supplies through (i) supermarket deliveries, (ii) Government or local authority food parcels and (iii) other support.

Victoria Prentis: The shielding programme was put in place to protect clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people – those who have been advised by the NHS not to leave their homes, because they are at a high risk of developing complications from coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Overall 2.2 million individuals have been identified as needing to shield. Of this group, approximately 350,000 have registered a need for essential supplies making the individual eligible for a priority slot for a supermarket delivery or food boxes, which they may cancel at any time.In total over 2 million food boxes have been successfully delivered to CEV individuals since March. We are continuing to work with supermarkets to increase delivery capacity.We do not hold centrally information on deliveries of food parcels by local authorities, total number of individuals benefiting from supermarket deliveries, or other support received by CEV individuals.

Fisheries

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the UK fishing industry (a) during the covid-19 outbreak and (b) in preparation for the end of the transition period.

Victoria Prentis: The Government remains committed to supporting the long-term profitability of our fishing industry in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. On 17 April 2020 it launched a £10 million financial assistance package for England's fishing and aquaculture businesses which included a £1 million grant scheme to support the sale of fish locally. We have left the EU, and at the end of the Transition Period will leave the Common Fisheries Policy. We will take back control of our waters to secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for the UK fishing industry and will develop a world-class fisheries management regime to the benefit of industry. The Fisheries Bill will give us the necessary powers to manage fisheries as an independent coastal State. New, domestic, long-term funding arrangements will support the UK's fishing industry from 2021. We are working closely with the industry and others to ensure that the trade of seafood with the EU can continue after the end of the Transition Period. A number of schemes are available to support fisheries and aquaculture businesses and a summary can be found via the link below: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/883851/Support_for_fishing_industry_one_stop_shop_v20.pdf

Bottles: Recycling

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he is making in implementing a bottle deposit scheme.

Rebecca Pow: The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass, and is seeking powers to do so in the Environment Bill. Since consulting on its introduction in 2019, the Government has been developing proposals for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers using further evidence and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. The scope of the scheme is being further developed and will be presented in a second consultation.

Home Office

Detention Centres: Coronavirus

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of releasing detainees from immigration detention centres to (a) prevent and (b) contain the transmission of covid-19 in those centres.

Chris Philp: The safety and health of those in immigration removal centres is of the utmost importance but we remain committed to removing foreign national offenders or those who violate our immigration rules. Detention plays a key role in securing our borders and maintaining effective immigration control.Decisions to detain an individual are made on a case by case basis and are based on all of the information known at the time of the review. As circumstances of the case change, detention is reviewed in light of these changes and release may then become appropriate.The Home Office is following all Public Health England guidance and have robust contingency plans in place including measures such as protective isolation to minimise the risk of COVID-19 spreading in the immigration detention estate. Further measures including shielding, single occupancy rooms and the cessation of social visits have been introduced in line with the Government direction on social distancing.There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate.

Asylum: Housing

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that asylum seeker accommodation adheres to social distancing measures introduced during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: The Home Office has been working with a Public Health England embed during the current crisis and we have put in place a number of measures to support people in the asylum system who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including working closely with providers to make sure the most vulnerable people within the system receive the support they need. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for the deportation of illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: It is the policy of this Government to return those not in need of protection.The majority of countries who are signatories to the Dublin Regulations which governs the return of those seeking asylum in the UK to a third country have announced temporary suspension of transfers to and from all EU Member States due to the Corona virus.Returns to third-countries can still take place where there is a suitable route of return.We are ready to resume Dublin returns as soon as travel restrictions are lifted

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK are being tested for covid-19; and how many illegal migrants have been so tested since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: The processes to manage clandestine arrivals are kept under regular review. In line with Public Health Guidance we are not currently providing routine testing for clandestine arrivals to the UK. In line with established processes, those arriving across the Channel are immediately assessed to establish whether there are any medical requirements. Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 are provided with suitable accommodation in which to self-isolate. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate.

Asylum: Applications

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are waiting for a decision on their asylum application as at 20 April 2020.

Chris Philp: The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications awaiting a decision in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of people who are awaiting a decision on their asylum application are published in the asylum applications awaiting a decision data table in Asy_D03 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets.The latest data is as at December 31st 2019 and an update, covering data up to the end of March 2020, is due to be released on 21st May 2020 as part of the Immigration Statistics Quarterly release.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Detention Centres: Coronavirus

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that all people in immigration removal centres have access to soap and sanitiser during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christine Jardine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on testing (a) staff and (b) detainees in immigration removal centres for covid-19.

Chris Philp: The safety and health of people in the detention estate is of the utmost importance. The Home Office is following all Public Health England guidance on coronavirus and have robust contingency plans in place, including measures such as protective isolation and use of personal protective equipment. Handwashing facilities are available in all immigration removal centres and we are working closely with suppliers to ensure we have a continuous supply of soap and cleaning materials. In addition, each centre has posters and leaflets to inform detainees about the importance of handwashing and social distancing to minimise the risk from Covid-19. Detainees are also able to speak to staff directly for advice on the measures in place. The Home Office is working closely with NHS England health and justice teams and regional commissioning teams to support their planning and delivery of healthcare services in immigration removal centres during the COVID-19 outbreak, which includes testing. On 26 March, the High Court ruled that our approach to detention and Coronavirus was sensible, with the appropriate precautionary measures in place. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate.

Refugees: Children

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to bring to the UK child refugees that have been granted permission to join their families following the cancellation of their flights as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: The UK remains fully committed to meeting our obligations under the Dublin III Regulation. The Regulation makes it very clear that once a take charge request has been accepted for an unaccompanied child, the transfer is the responsibility of the requesting State. Despite covid-19 restrictions the UK remains ready to accept transfers under Dublin whenever Member States are in a position to make those arrangements. We are continuing to liaise with our counterparts in Member States on what actions can be taken during this period and to effect transfers as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

Airports: Travel Requirements

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps have been taken by Border Force to ensure that people returning to the UK from abroad are aware of the latest Government guidelines on covid-19.

Chris Philp: The health response at ports is a cross-government responsibility as is the work to protect critical supply chains. Border Force are working closely with DHSC, PHE, Devolved Administrations, port operators and carriers to ensure arriving passengers have access to the latest advice on arrival.

Aviation: Disease Control

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps Border Force officials are taking to establish whether social distancing is taking place on aircraft arriving in the UK.

Chris Philp: The health response at ports is a cross-government responsibility as is the work to protect critical supply chains. While Border Force are working closely with PHE, DHSC, DfT, Devolved Administrations, port operators and carriers to ensure arriving passengers have access to the latest PHE and government advice on arrival. The safety of passengers, including implementing any social distancing measures while on an aircraft, is the responsibility of the carrier.

Travel: Coronavirus

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the evidential basis is for the Government's decision to impose a 14 day quarantine for people arriving in the UK; and what assessment she has made of the compatibility of that decision with WHO advice.

Chris Philp: In order to keep overall levels of infection down, as the Government prepares for social contact to increase, a series of measures and restrictions will be introduced at the UK border. This will contribute to keeping the overall number of transmissions in the UK as low as possible. The Government will require all international arrivals not on a short list of exemptions to self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK. Where international travellers are unable to demonstrate where they would self-isolate, they will be required to do so in accommodation arranged by the Government.Further details, and guidance on measures including screening, will be set out shortly, and the measures and list of exemptions will be kept under regular review.

Protective Clothing: Coronavirus

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) masks, (b) visors, (c) pairs of gloves and (d) other items of personal protective equipment were provided to (i) UK Border Force and (ii) UK Visas and Immigration staff for use in preventing the spread of covid-19 in each week since 1 January 2020.

Chris Philp: Detailed Border Force record keeping commenced from 12th February when Public Health England (PHE) guidance for First Responders changed. Over 850,000 individual items of PPE have been provided to Border Force officers. Border Force have also supplied a significant number of additional protective items/measures such as hand sanitizer & wipes which is not classed as PPE.Since 1st March 2020 over 44,000 individual items of PPE have been provided to UKVI staff in customer facing roles along with thousands of protective measures such as hand sanitiser/antibacterial wipes. UKVI also currently have over 22,000 individual items of PPE on order.

Immigration Controls: Coronavirus

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask Secretary of State for the Home Office, what border controls will be put in place to restrict transmission of covid-19 as other countries begin to ease lockdown measures.

Chris Philp: In order to keep overall levels of infection down, as the Government prepares for social contact to increase, a series of measures and restrictions will be introduced at the UK border. This will contribute to keeping the overall number of transmissions in the UK as low as possible. The Government will require all international arrivals not on a short list of exemptions to self-isolate in their accommodation for fourteen days on arrival into the UK. Where international travellers are unable to demonstrate where they would self-isolate, they will be required to do so in accommodation arranged by the Government. Further details, and guidance on measures including screening, will be set out shortly, and the measures and list of exemptions will be kept under regular review.

Asylum: Housing

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking with the Department for Education to ensure that the required (a) equipment and (b) technology to participate in school work is provided to asylum-seeking families with children living in National Asylum Support Service supplied accommodation during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: The children of asylum seekers have access to the same educational services as all other children living in the UK. The government has committed over £100 million to support remote education. We are providing laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access. This specifically includes: children in Year 10 who are preparing for examination; children receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children; or care leavers. In addition, where individuals in these groups do not have internet connections, we will be providing them 4G wireless routers to ensure they can learn at home.

Offenders: Coronavirus

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, whether the deportation of foreign-born convicted criminals has been suspended as a result of the covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: No, removals of foreign national offenders are still taking place where routes are available, and Immigration Enforcement are following the latest guidance from Public Health England.

Refugees: Greek Islands

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to facilitate the resettlement of unaccompanied refugee minors from the Greek islands.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied refugee children the UK has resettled from the Greek islands in each year since 2016.

Chris Philp: Protecting vulnerable children remains a key priority of this Government and we have a proud record of doing so through our asylum system and our resettlement schemes.The UK remains fully committed to meeting its obligations under the Dublin III Regulation, and unaccompanied children can continue to transfer to the UK from Greece under Dublin. The Regulation makes it clear that once a take charge request has been accepted for an unaccompanied child, the transfer is the responsibility of the requesting State. Despite covid-19 restrictions, the UK is ready to accept transfers under Dublin whenever Member States are in a position to make those arrangements. We recently worked closely with Greece to complete the transfer of vulnerable people, including unaccompanied children, on 11 May who were united with family members in the UK. We continue to liaise with our counterparts in Member States on what actions can be taken during this period and to effect transfers as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.The Home Office publishes data on the Dublin III Regulation on an annual basis (each February) in the Immigration Statistics. This includes data on the number of requests to transfer into and out of the UK and the number acceptances and transfers into and out of, broken down by article and Member State requesting. The latest data, covering up to 2019, can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#dublin-regulationInstructions on how to use the data can be found in the ‘Notes’ sheet.The Government remains committed to relocating the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children from Europe to the UK under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (‘the Dubs amendment’). Over 220 children were transferred to the UK under section 67 when the Calais camp was cleared in late 2016. Since then we have continued to make further progress with participating States including Greece, to move closer to achieving this commitment and we will publish the current number of transfers under section 67 on 21 May 2020 along with the publication of the quarterly immigration statistics.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of unaccompanied child migrants that have crossed the English channel from France and subsequently been granted asylum in the UK in each year since 2016.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not routinely publish breakdowns of asylum claims by method of arrival to the UK.However, the Home Office does publish data on Initial decision on asylum applications from unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), by outcome. This data can be found at Asy_02b, of the published Immigration Statistics, year ending December 2019, published on 27 February 2020:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2019/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlementHowever, this data is not yet published for the period up to March 2020.

Asylum: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have been transferred from Section 95 to Section 4 support since 23 March 2020.

Chris Philp: Published stats will be available on gov.uk in due course, recent statistics since March 2020 are not yet ready for release. We can confirm that we have seen an increase in Section 4 application and we continue to move people who would no longer be eligible for Section 95 support onto Section 4. We are working to ensure that applications are dealt with efficiently, and that no one should be left destitute.

Asylum

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many negative decisions on asylum claims have been made but not served since 23 March 2020.

Chris Philp: The Home Office publishes data on initial decisions on asylum applications by outcome. This data can be found at Asy_02a, of the published Immigration Statistics December 2019 www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2019/list-of-tables#asylum-and-resettlement. However, this data is not yet published for the period from March 2020.During COVID-19, Asylum Operations continue to make and serve decisions on cases where there is enough information to do so. In terms of decisions on negative claims ‘made but not served’, the Home Office does not publish data on what is usually a brief interregnum between a decision being written and then served.

Asylum: Housing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people are not evicted from asylum accommodation into homelessness when the lockdown restrictions are eased; and what discussions she has had with representatives of  (a) local authorities and (b) Public Health England on that matter.

Chris Philp: The Government has put in a range of measures to support asylum seekers who are affected by the coronavirus outbreak and continue to monitor the situation closely. Our current policy temporarily allows those granted refugee or other immigration status, and those who have been refused asylum and exhausted their appeal rights, to remain in their asylum accommodation. This policy will be reviewed before the end of June.When normal arrangements resume, we will ensure our procedures are consistent with PHE guidance and that the impact on local authorities is carefully considered, as some of those granted refugee or other immigration status may require assistance to find alternative accommodation.Failed asylum seekers who have exhausted their appeal right will continue to be provided with asylum accommodation provided they take reasonable steps to leave the UK or where there is a practical or legal obstacle that prevents their departure.

Asylum: Finance

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to restore the link between the level of asylum support and social security benefits; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that these meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers. The level of the asylum support cash allowance is not linked to social security benefits.

Refugees: Families

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of enabling unaccompanied child refugees in the UK to sponsor close family members to join them in the UK.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to allow unaccompanied child refugees in the UK to sponsor the safe passage of (a) parents, (b) siblings, (c) grandparents and (d) other close family members to the UK under family reunion rules.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will expand existing family reunion rules to allow parents to sponsor children over the age of 18 to join them in the UK.

Chris Philp: The Government has consistently made clear its considerable concern that allowing refugee children to sponsor family risks creating incentives for more children to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave their family and attempt hazardous journeys to the UK. This would play into the hands of criminal gangs, undermining our safeguarding responsibilities. Government policy makes clear that there is discretion to grant visas outside the Immigration Rules, which caters for extended family members in exceptional circumstances – including young adult sons or daughters who are dependent on family here and living in dangerous situations. Refugees can also sponsor adult dependent relatives living overseas to join them where, due to age, illness or disability, that person requires long-term personal care that can only be provided by relatives in the UK.

Asylum: Finance

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish the outcome of its review into asylum support rates; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers

Asylum: Housing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Section 4 asylum dispersals are continuing during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: We recognise the challenge of managing COVID 19 within our accommodation estate and are working closely with Public Health England (PHE) on how their guidance on social distancing and self-isolation is properly applied, while ensuring that people can continue to access essential services. We have reduced movement around our accommodation in line with wider guidance, moves can still take place where there is a critical or need or to ensure social distancing and isolation. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate

Asylum: Housing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to enable subsistence only payments that are not connected to the provision of accommodation for Section 4 asylum seekers.

Chris Philp: There are no plans to provide failed asylum seekers supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 with support in the form of subsistence payments only. If failed asylum seekers wish to receive the support they are required to move to accommodation provided by the Home Office.

Hezbollah

Gary Sambrook: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on tackling Hezbollah fundraising operations in the EU.

James Brokenshire: The UK has a strong reputation for tackling terrorist financing and we work very closely with international partners and financial institutions to exchange and analyse information. This ensures we are better able to detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of global terrorist funds. Our EU cooperation is part of a wider landscape of international counter terrorism work, which includes cooperation through relationships such as Interpol, the Five Eyes, and bilateral work with individual countries.The entirety of Hizballah is proscribed and designated under the UK’s domestic counter terrorism sanctions regime (the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (TAFA)). Hizballah’s Military Wing is also designated along with two named individuals associated with the group under the EU CP931 regime. The investigation and prosecution of offences relating to proscribed organisations is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Hezbollah

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the UK’s cooperation with EU counterparts on Hezbollah fundraising activities within the EU.

James Brokenshire: The UK has a strong reputation for tackling terrorist financing and we work very closely with international partners and financial institutions to exchange and analyse information. This ensures we are better able to detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of global terrorist funds. Our EU cooperation is part of a wider landscape of international counter terrorism work, which includes cooperation through relationships such as Interpol, the Five Eyes, and bilateral work with individual countries.The entirety of Hizballah is proscribed and designated under the UK’s domestic counter terrorism sanctions regime (the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (TAFA)). Hizballah’s Military Wing is also designated along with two named individuals associated with the group under the EU CP931 regime. The investigation and prosecution of offences relating to proscribed organisations is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Hezbollah

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has has with her EU counterparts on tackling Hezbollah fundraising efforts within the EU.

James Brokenshire: The UK has a strong reputation for tackling terrorist financing and we work very closely with international partners and financial institutions to exchange and analyse information. This ensures we are better able to detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of global terrorist funds. Our EU cooperation is part of a wider landscape of international counter terrorism work, which includes cooperation through relationships such as Interpol, the Five Eyes, and bilateral work with individual countries.The entirety of Hizballah is proscribed and designated under the UK’s domestic counter terrorism sanctions regime (the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (TAFA)). Hizballah’s Military Wing is also designated along with two named individuals associated with the group under the EU CP931 regime. The investigation and prosecution of offences relating to proscribed organisations is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Fires

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of UK capability to tackle wildfires using aircraft.

James Brokenshire: Fire is a devolved matter for the respective governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I am providing response for England only. Fire and rescue authorities in England are required to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan to assess foreseeable fire and rescue related risks (including wildfires) that could affect their area, and how they will respond. Currently no FRS owns aerial firefighting assets, though they work with other responder organisations which may deploy them in the event of a wildfire, as was done in the unprecedented 2018 wildfires near Manchester. Fire and Rescue Services are provided with the funding they need, to respond to emergencies including wildfires. In addition, the Home Office supports services by providing over £27m for specialist capabilities, such as high-volume pumps, which are well used to combat major wildfires.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, what steps the Government plans to take to enforce the 14-day quarantine restrictions on people entering the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Philp: Given the high levels of compliance we have seen to our Covid-19 measures to date, we would hope that the majority of people would do the right thing and abide by these measures. Enforcement would only be used as a last resort.However, anyone who fails to comply with the mandatory conditions could face enforcement action, including a fixed penalty notice or potential prosecution and a substantial fine.We will set out further detail shortly.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the monthly cost to the public purse of quarantining refugees who have crossed the English Channel.

Chris Philp: All asylum seekers who arrive in the United Kingdom presenting with symptoms of coronovirus are placed in a hotel facility to enable them to self isolate for the 7 days (14 days for families) recommended by Public Health England. Any service users who present with symptoms once housed within the accommodation estate will be supported to self-isolate within that facility. Data on arrival date, route and method of transmission into the UK is not readily accessible, and would require a manual search.

Asylum: Housing

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what financial support the Government is providing to people living in asylum accommodation to ensure that they can access soap, hand sanitiser and other essential personal hygiene items during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Asylum seekers receiving support under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are generally provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover other essential living needs, including hygiene products. For those in section 98 Initial Accommodation and hotel or hostel accommodation, hygiene products are provided to them.As a result of the Covid-19 crisis a higher proportion of asylum seekers than usual are being accommodated in full-board hostels and hotels.We continue to monitor the situation closely and we are making adjustments to our processes and procedures where necessary and appropriate. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate.

Asylum: Finance

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the methodology is for (a) calculating changes to asylum support rates and (b) ensuring those rates are sufficient to allow asylum seekers to avoid destitution; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: A report published in March 2018 sets out the methodology for calculating the asylum support rates and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-cash-allowance-paid-to-asylum-seekers.We are currently reviewing the level of the support rate, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Question 41028, whether migrants who have illegally entered the UK in 2020, and have not been returned to other countries due to a suspension of the Dublin Agreement during covid-19 restrictions, will be re-assessed for return once the pandemic is over.

Chris Philp: The Dublin III Regulation is a long-standing mechanism between EU Member States to determine responsibility for examining asylum claims. It is not an application route for transfer to the UK.Under the Dublin III Regulation, member states have three months to make a request to another participating member state to take back or take charge of the asylum application. Requested member states have two months from receiving a request to accept or reject responsibility for processing the asylum claim. Once a Dublin request has been accepted, the Regulation provides that the sending Member State has six months to enact the transfer.The Home Office continues to work closely with EU Member State partners to enact transfers as soon as possible and ahead of the six-month timeframe. We are responding to the unique circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak by closely monitoring the transfer suspensions imposed by other member states and will seek to return those migrants accepted by another member state as soon as the relevant suspension ends, and a route of return becomes available.

Undocumented Migrants: Dover

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of migrants who (a) entered the UK at Dover (b) were stopped and returned to France immediately and (c) have been deported following a review of their status.

Chris Philp: The Home Office do not routinely publish this level of data on clandestines, as this could compromise immigration controls and impact on national security.The Home Office works closely with partners in the UK and overseas to strike people smuggling at source – identifying and dismantling the organised crime groups that facilitate illegal immigration. Additionally, the UK works abroad to reduce factors that may push or force people to attempt such journeys - through creating jobs, tackling modern slavery, providing education and delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance in response to conflicts and natural disasters.We will continue to work closely with our French counterparts to maintain border security and keep legitimate passengers and trade moving.At juxtaposed controls and ports around the country, Border Force officers use some of the most advanced detection technology available to find and stop migrants attempting to reach the UK illegally.The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of Returns are published in table Ret_D01 of the Returns detailed datasets.Please note that only some of those returned will have previously entered the UK illegally; others may have entered legally, for example those who enter on a visa and overstay their period of valid leave and are therefore not separately identifiable in the data.

Scotland Office

Buses: Hydrogen

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are built in (a) Scotland and (b) other parts of the UK.

Mr Alister Jack: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on a number of different policy issues. The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to decarbonising the transport network, considering the role that all technologies can play. As was highlighted in the Prime Minister’s speech to Parliament on 11 February 2020 announcing the record-breaking investment of £5 billion new investment in buses and bicycles: “There will be more than 4,000 brand-new buses on the roads - zero carbon British built buses - on the roads of places Ashfield, Barnstaple, Southampton, Manchester and many more towns and cities besides”. DfT are currently considering the UK Government’s approach to delivering this. The UK Government have acted early to support a number of world-leading hydrogen demonstration projects, and are continuing to explore and consider the potential role of hydrogen in the UK. I understand the Scottish Government are also considering this as part of their Scottish Energy Strategy.

Poverty: Scotland

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to support people that live in areas of higher deprivation in Scotland during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Alister Jack: I am committed to ensuring that those people living in Scotland who are affected by Covid-19 receive the support that they need. I have regular conversations with my Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions where I champion the interests of Scotland. The UK Government is ensuring that people continue to receive their benefits and we continue to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government to support those who need us the most.

Tourism: Scotland

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what support his Department is providing to the Scottish tourism industry during the covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Alister Jack: Ministers and officials in the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland are in regular contact with Scottish businesses and their representative organisations, including those in the tourism sector. The UK Government recognises that this is a challenging time for the sector. This is why the Chancellor has committed an unprecedented package of business support. This includes a range of loan schemes, grants, self-employment support and the Job Retention Scheme. Business representative organisations I have talked with have welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of the Job Retention Scheme’s extension to October. In addition, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government to support the tourism industry in Scotland during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: Scotland

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much funding for covid-19 testing has been allocated from the public purse to Scotland.

Mr Alister Jack: Funding for Covid-19 testing is UK-wide. This means Devolved Administrations do not receive a Barnett Consequential on this expenditure, but receive a share of the testing equipment that DHSC procure for the UK. At present, DHSC are providing five testing sites and thirteen mobile testing units in Scotland, which complement the testing activities of NHS Scotland.

Cabinet Office

Press Conferences: Coronavirus

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2020 to Questions 30105 and 37838, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that all television broadcasts by the Government on covid-19 are accompanied by British Sign Language interpretation.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 39766 and 41529 on 4 May 2020.

Department for International Trade

Protectionism: Drugs and Food

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will take steps to promote protectionism to reduce the UK's dependence on international trade for supplies of (a) medicines and (b) food.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: As set out in my previous answer to my Hon. Friend for South Holland and The Deepings on 21st May, UIN:46540, free trade has a vital role in addressing the immediate impact – and resolving the longer-term effects – of this pandemic. It is imperative that we keep our markets open to maintain the flow of essential goods and services, including medical products. Free trade is the best way to both back Britain’s businesses and make sure we have the supplies we need.

Football Association Premier League: Illegal Broadcasting

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the effect on Premier League income of piracy from overseas broadcast rights.

Graham Stuart: We are aware of the impact of overseas broadcast piracy on major sports rights holders, including the Premier League, and other UK-owned intellectual property rights owners. This is a commercial matter and the direct impact of overseas broadcasting piracy can be found in their public statements. We will remain vigilant in respect of any instances of illegal broadcasting of Premier League football and other UK-owned intellectual property rights, at home and abroad.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Snooker

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings he has had with representatives of snooker organisations; and what the outcome was of those meetings.

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent meetings he has had with representatives of rowing organisations; and what the outcome was of those meetings.

Nigel Huddleston: I am having regular discussions with sector and industry bodies to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on sport and how the government can best provide support. This includes a fortnightly meeting with sporting organisations.

Newcastle United Football Club

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he is taking steps to investigate the Saudi Government’s purchase of Newcastle United Football Club.

Nigel Huddleston: The sale is a matter for the parties concerned, and for the Premier League to assess under its Owners’ and Directors’ Test. As such no steps are being taken.

Showmen's Guild of Great Britain: Coronavirus

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will invite representatives from the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain to attend meetings of the covid-19 roadmap taskforce on recreation and leisure.

Caroline Dinenage: Five new ministerial-led taskforces have been set up to work up plans for how and when closed sectors and places can reopen safely, as part of the Government’s roadmap to start easing social distancing measures. This includes a recreation and leisure taskforce, led by DCMS, which will engage with key stakeholders across the tourism, culture and heritage, libraries, entertainment, youth and sport sectors.Membership of the Recreation and Leisure taskforce was announced on 20th May. However, its work will be supported by eight working groups. Membership of those working groups has not yet been confirmed, but will be announced shortly.

Broadband: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether broadband engineers may enter people's homes during the covid-19 outbreak to install fibre connections.

Matt Warman: The telecoms sector has been one of the critical services needed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. For these purposes, the Government defined telecoms key workers to include staff working on network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services. All central guidance has been published on gov.uk The Government guidance on staying at home and away from people clarifies that work carried out in people’s homes, including for repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. Workers should seek to follow Public Health England advice on distancing. The Government does not intend to prescribe which kinds of activity (network build, network repair, maintenance, consumer switching) are and are not appropriate. It is for employers to manage the health and safety of their employees responsibly at this time and ensure that the PHE guidance can be followed safely by their workforce.

Sports: Coronavirus

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives of sporting bodies on the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: I am having regular discussions with sector and industry bodies to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on sport and how the government can best provide support. This includes a fortnightly meeting with sporting organisations including national governing bodies. My officials maintain daily contact with sporting organisations.